This day’s NYT Strands clues are straightforward if you possess great auditory skills.

Strands, the New York Times‘ elegant word-finding game, presents players with a variation on the classic word search. Words can be constructed from interlinked letters — vertically, horizontally, diagonally, and can shift directions, forming distinctive shapes and designs. Each letter in the grid contributes to a solution. A theme always links each answer, in addition to the “spangram,” a unique word or phrase that captures the day’s theme and spans the grid either horizontally or vertically.

By providing a cryptic hint and omitting the word list, Strands fosters a challenging puzzle that requires more time to complete compared to its other games, such as Wordle and Connections.

If you’re unable to solve today’s puzzle or don’t have 10 or more minutes to spare, we have all the NYT Strands clues for today’s puzzle you need to proceed at your own speed.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The ears have it!

The words pertain to a body part.

Today’s NYT Strands theme clearly articulated

These words reference components of your hearing devices.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today’s NYT Strands spangram is oriented vertically.

NYT Strands spangram answer for today

Today’s spangram is Hear Hear.

NYT Strands word compilation for January 15

• Stirruo